Bengali Ramayana - Aja and Indumati

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Raghu's son was Aja. After Raghu's death, he

became the king. He was a great king. Around then,

Mathura's King had organized a swyamvar for his daughter

Indumati. When Aja reached the Swyamvar, he was the most

handsome young man around.No one could take their eyes off

him. Indumati was a very beautiful gir. When she

steeped into the chamber where the kings and princes were

sitting, she was sight to behold. Vermillion marked her

forehead, her eyes were lined with khol, she was wearing

wonderful jewellery and ornaments, as they had been

designed by the gods for her.<br>She walked around the

kings and princes leaving them heart-broken, till she

saw Aja. She chose him.<br>Aja was the youngest in

that hall. The other kings and princes decided to get

Indumati for themselves. When Aja and Indumati passed

where the kings and princes were hiding, they were

attacked. Aja shot one arrow. That arrow changed into a

Gandharva. The gandharva started replicating and finally

more than one gandharva attacked and killed the kings

and princes. Aja returned to Ayodhya with Indumati.

<br>Indumati gave birth to a beautiful boy, who was named

Dasharatha. <br>When Dasharatha was a year old something

terrible happened. Narada was travelling in the heavens.

His Veena had garlands of Parijat flowers around it.

One of the garlands slipped and fell down on

Indumati. She died instantly. Heartbroken, Aja too died.

Two dancers from the heaven had been cursed to go

stay on earth. They had been born as Aja and Indumati.

With Aja and Indumati's deaths the dancers were

released and they went off to the heavens.<br>Seeing a

young prince alone and orphaned, Vashishta and his wife

took the charge of bringing up Dasharatha. When he was

old enough, he learnt his lessons from Vashistha and

weapons and the art of fighting from Brighu. When was

fifteen, he was crowned the king of Ayodhya.